New programme finds support among other academics

They reject claim that the programme was structured undemocratically

April 19, 2013 01:33 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 10:00 pm IST - NEW DELHI:

Around 50 of Delhi University’s distinguished academics, many of whom are Deans and Heads of Departments, have expressed support for the ambitious four-year undergraduate programme that the university will be implementing this June.

“We have collectively expressed our concern and distaste at the shenanigans of a handful of members of the teaching community that belong to a particular ideology. They are intent on holding the university to ransom and this must be checked,” said S.C. Bhatla, Dean, Faculty of Science, while making public the letter expressing support for the new course.

“Strange views prejudiced by a particular ideological bias are being masqueraded by a small and vociferous segment of the university community as being representative of the views and feelings of the university at large. Such a misleading impression needs to be corrected for the sake of the public and in the interests of truth and fair play,” stated the letter.

“We are conscious that the university has embarked on a major exercise designed to revamp higher education and create a paradigm shift in learning and mentoring. Such a major exercise calls for single minded attention of those that have conceived the programme and of those that believe in it. Fortunately, this major reform has had the benefit of such a commitment. Never before in the history of this university has such a proposal been put forth before such a large and diverse group of the university and civil society for the sake of consultation. For almost two years, thousands of teachers, students and parents have been engagingly consulted in meaningful ways to help in the design and evolution of the proposal for the new undergraduate system of study. In addition all statutory requirements have been met with overwhelming support in the Academic Council and Executive Council.”

Then it went on to add: “A meticulously false propaganda is being spread by a minority group to undermine the success of this new programme that has been designed so well keeping in mind the best interests of the students. No major exercise of any consequence can be undertaken without possible pitfalls and the university is fully conscious of the pitfalls and dangers and we reiterate that the university is preparing with that much more care, zeal and planning.”

The letter ended with this appeal: “We strongly urge our misguided colleagues to refrain from demoralising the prospective students with misleading propaganda and from harming the image of the university.”

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